Is that all??? I can think of a lot worse someone your age could do besides not wearing shoes! Hey it's your barefeet were talking about here, everyone's got them. If that's their only argument about you, then they should be happy you chose a natural healthy lifestyle. Some parents need to chill out a little, know what I mean? Plleezzze!
My dad was never to thrilled with me walking around barefoot either, but his main concern was that I would step on something & cut my foot (my brothers cut their feet more then I did) and if we did hurt our feet then we knew not to run whining to dad.
My way, (just my way, probably no one else's) is a more gradual approach, instead of a single clear cut announcement. It starts around the house, first in summer, then all year, then around the yard, then at casual events with friends, and then on and on to where it's most of the time. Some of the control freaks at stores will make stores your last holdout. Could take a year, maybe more. Some people will suddenly notice they have not seen you shod very often in recent months. They may still be mad when they get into this with you. You will need some "proofs" as to why this is healthier than shoes. Check http://www.barefooters.org and the other organizational sites at the beginning of the Bare It forum for these proofs. I'm bf way more often than not, and I never made a declarative announcement to anyone about it. Not my family, not any clients I show up for, no one. It just evolved. Gradually. Very few hate it. Most see it as weird, me as strange, even if they accept me this way. Most seem amazed and admiring of my ability. Very few love it or are turned on by it. I'm just grateful no one seems grossed out, but, I'm on record on this forum as favoring the clean way, rather than the black soles way, which puts me in a definite minority on this board. You'll have to decide which way helps your cause better.
- Some of the control freaks at stores will make stores your last holdout. - I put a big bandage on top of one of my feet if I think I might have problems going in a store barefoot. I tell them it's a medical condition and their discriminating.
My parents aren't exactly thrilled with mt barefoot tendecy, but basucally if i'm not with them or i'm in the house, i barefoot!
Geez, some you have it pretty rough. When I was growning up my mother was happy that I wasn't sitting in the kitchen smoking pot all day.
Yea at 16 declarative statements never go over well. No matter what you're saying if it's a little radical it's most likely going to be viewed as immature and not thought out. I just sort of started going barefoot around. But being older my relationship with my parents has changed so it's not as hard. They are still concerned I'm going to step on something or hurt myself and I appreciate their concern. It's just a matter of respecting where other people are coming from and not getting into a fight about it. My general response to judgement is, "does it really bother you that much? why?" Starts some interesting dialogs. A lot of times people just aren't comfortable with different ideas and mentally deal with it differently, sometimes it comes out as "anger" or fear or whatever.
A statement that is likely to fall on deaf ears: Cherish the often absurd concern your parents have for you. When it's gone, you will surely miss it. I speak from experience.
Back when I was sixteen (boy, that seems like a long time ago). My parents had a rule; no barefooting before May 1st. Glad I'm on my own now. Mother still shakes her head when I appear at her house barefoot in April, March, in the winter.
My dad told me he had two pairs of shoes till he was fourteen. One pair was his church shoes he only wore on Sunday and the other were used boots he wore when it got really cold, otherwise he was barefoot even at school when he was a kid.
Beats me maybe it had something to do with Springtime. Who knows? Maybe my folks just like beginnings of the month. Peace and Love!!!
I see no need to discuss it with family, if you are like most of us, you will gradually become more comfortable with being barefoot in places that shoes are usually worn, ten years ago I only went barefoot in the privacy of my home. Now I am comfortable going places without shoes and honestly I do not think most people and businesses mind. I started going to a new hair salon this spring and from the first visit I have been barefoot and while my stylist and the receptionist notice they do not mind, I needed a trim a few days ago due to a presentation the next day, so I called my stylist and she fit me in after her last appointment of the day. I arrive a few minutes late, and when I entered I noticed that both the receptionist and stylist were barefoot, they said they were fairly sure that I would not mind them being barefoot at the end of the day. We started casually discussing going barefoot in public and at work. The receptionist admitted that she is usually barefoot when not at work and very formal events and even sometimes at work since most customers can't see her feet. The stylist however admitted that she never wears shoes at home, but rarely goes barefoot outside or in public. She sid she would prefer to go barefoot more often but was concerned about other peoples perception if she did not have on shoes in public. She also said that sometimes when her feet hurt she goes to break in her car to slip off her shoes rather then have her manager and coworkers see her barefoot in the break room. But she said she was not really uncomfortable cutting my hair wihout her shoes since I am usually barefoot when I am there. She said that they have a few other customers that sometimes come in barefoot.
just do it when they're not around...i do that, and it's pretty exciting cause you have some sort of a pressure of not being seen =)
Who cares! there planty of worse things you could be doing iinstead of going barefoot. If you have nice feet and you like the feel of being bare- just do it. Eventually they will get used to it and learn that it is just a part who you are....
